This week a High Court ruling stated that a 2009 ban on cornrows imposed by a North London school was ‘unlawful, indirect, racial discrimination’.
Lately in the press, there seems to be no shortage of stories involving racism and discrimination against the black community. The latest issue stems from the fact that in 2009, a 13 year old boy was forced to leave his school on his first day of attendance due to the fact he wore his hair in cornrows. The boy’s parents claimed that the cornrows were of cultural and religious significance to the family, but nonetheless the boy was made to find a new school.
St Gregory’s School in Harrow, claims that their policy on uniform and hair “plays a critical role in ensuring that the culture associated with gangs of boys in particular – eg haircuts, bandanas, jewellery, hats, hoodies, etc – has no place in our school”.
What do you think? Headscarves and now hairstyles…how much influence should schools have over the way pupils present themselves?
